Better in Boots

It’s Valentine’s day, but that doesn’t really matter much to me, especially not this year. I’ve never been one for the contrived romance of the day–except perhaps when I when I was a kid.  But still, one can’t escape it, and I do appreciate that a lot of love is being shown this day, no matter that it may be a bit forced. Love and affection is always good.  But this is also a somber day for the fashion world as it mourns the death of design genius Alexander McQueen. So, I guess in a somewhat twisted commemoration of Valentines Day and McQueen’s life, I present these fabulous lipstick-red zippered ankle boots from Alexander McQueen’s latest line. Not for the faint of heart, but then that was true for most of his wonderful creations.  Available for $999 at zappos.com. Also available in black.

In the prime of his life and at the height of his professional creativity and fame, British designer Alexander McQueen died yesterday,  at his home in London.  Preliminary reports are that he took his own life on the eve of his mother’s funeral.   McQueen’s show at New York’s fashion week had been scheduled for today.  At a time like this I feel sadness for a life cut short–McQueen was born in 1969–and I also can’t help but think of the decades of innovative design that the world will never see. I have reviewed a number of McQueen’s boots on this blog and was eagerly awaiting his newest lines. It is a great loss to the world of fashion and design.

Newly arrived at Saks, these Alexander McQueen ankle boots have the designer’s signature skull zipper and rocker glam profile.  McQueen is really at the top of his game right now:  white hot and a must have for all fashionistas who like to look like they live on the edge (but really don’t).  I love his elegant use of this season’s popular decorative zipper and the 8o’s throw-back “stand-up collar” look of the shaft. The five-inch cone-shaped heel with one-inch platform add to the power an sex appeal of this boot. Available on pre-order for $995 at SaksFifthAvenue.com.

This is one of the top reasons I think it would be great to be a star: Even when you are not on stage or on camera, you are “ON”.  Sure, they complain about it, but it’s gotta be fun to wear all kinds of wonderful and wacky, on- the-edge fashions and the next day watch them fly off the shelves–no matter how bizarre they are–just because YOU wore them. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the most popular stars, just for fun, decide to see just how outrageous they could go, and STILL get their fans to follow suit.  Anyway, that’s kind of what I think of when I see Rihanna in these Alexander McQueen Dogtooth Boots. They are a lovely, pointy-toed, curvy-heeled pump, from which is protruding a giant black and white dogtooth-pattern wool boot shaft.  For those familiar with the designer Alexander McQueen, they know that this boot is fairly conservative even for him. Reasons I wouldn’t buy these:  the price tag, it would take a miracle to get me into 4 1/2 inch stilettos, I wouldn’t be able to rock them like Rihanna does. Reasons I would buy them: If I were Rihanna. This isn’t my favorite look on her, but I’m pretty sure she had fun with it.  YOU can buy them at AlexanderMcQueen.com for $1,045.